207 Anglers Pay $2,200 For Chance To Win $108,000

March 28, 1986|By Cheryl Gordon of The Sentinel Staff

Florida fishermen will compose almost half the field when the $731,000 B.A.S.S. Megabucks Tournament drops its lines April 5-12 on the Harris Chain of Lakes. A field of 207 bass fishermen, 102 from the Sunshine State, has come up with the $2,200 entry fee to compete in this tournament, which boasts the largest payout in B.A.S.S. history. The winner will receive $108,000 in cash and prizes.

Twenty-six states -- with fishermen coming from as far away as California and Maine -- will be represented. The next largest state representation hails from Georgia, which has 19 anglers entered.

Tavares' Taylor was surprised to find he was entered in the tournament. He already was resigned that it was unaffordable when he received confirmation from B.A.S.S. that his entry had been received. An anonymous individual charged the entry fee for Taylor on a VISA card and submitted a note asking that the sponsor's name not be divulged. Taylor said he has an idea who entered him but can't get the guy to admit it. He'll be spending his energy on finding fish and not the sponsor from now on.

FISHING LINES . . .

The weekend fishing forecast drew a mixed reaction with the full moon and flukey fronts confusing anglers and fish alike. Chad Taylor of Taylor's Tackle in Tavares said shellcracker are plentiful in Little Lake Harris and in the vicinity of the Lane Park Fishing Resort. Taylor said to look for specs in Lake Dora and near Lane Park. Bass are also in the Lane Park area and can be enticed out of the lilly pads with plastic worms and shiners. Catfish weighing 15 to 18 pounds also have been caught this past week in Lake Dora and Lake Eustis. . . . Wes Gales at Lane Park confirmed the variety is there but the midweek cold front has slowed the action. Bob Hostetler at Morgan's Fish Camp in Leesburg said the high water has forced the fish in the Lake Griffin area into ''inaccessible waters to do their bedding.'' Hostetler reported several local success stories: Albert Jackson and Herb Mays have been catching specs and shellcracker. Katie Smith, who caught 2,000 specs while wintering in Lake County, and Jan Noderer caught more of the same before Smith returned to Oklahoma this week. Paul Allen, Sam Childers and Dick Warren have had the most success with bass. Hostetler said guests at his resort caught and released 6,000-plus pounds of bass at his resort last March. This year they've only weighed in 3,000 pounds.

TOURNAMENT TOPICS . . .

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is still accepting applications for its Bass Tournament For Kids, set Saturday, April 12. Participants must be 17 years of age or under and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in a boat measuring 14 feet or larger. The entry fee is $10 per boat, and plaques will be awarded to the 10 teams with the highest weight of any 12 fish. Trophies will be awarded for the three largest fish. The early entry deadline is Monday. For more information contact Deputy Bill Maylor or Deputy Ed Williams at 343-9501.

Area anglers are taking advantage of the longer days. On Tuesday night fishermen have been competing in the Bass Buddy Tournament at Rogers Park in Leesburg. Until we change to daylight-saving time they will be fishing from 6:30-10:30 p.m. The entry fee is $10 per fisherman and $2 of that fee goes toward the big bass jackpot. Winners of last week's tournament were Bob Balthaser and Ernie Gomez. Russ Schmidt and Randy Shumate finished second and also took Big Bass honors. Fishermen interested in participating can just show up at 6:30 p.m. or call George Wilbanks for more information at 429-3144.

Mudfishermen here's your chance to capitalize on your knack for catching the wrong fish. On April 27, Chad Taylor and Sonny Conner will host the Mudfish Shootout Tournament on the Harris Chain. The entry fee is $20 per boat in this 100 percent payback tournament. Anglers who register before April 20 will get free T-shirts. Coinciding with the main event will be a Miss Mudfish pageant open to contestants ages 65 and older. For more information call Taylor at 343-1133.

The Eustis Elks will hold a club tournament on May 3 off Buzzard Beach in Tavares. The tournament is open to Central Florida District members. All proceeds will go to the Florida Elks Children's Hospital in Umatilla. Call Jack Meyer at 357-2853.